Let’s take another look at why these judgments from God need to come. Revelations 19:2 says, “true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." God’s judgments remove those who are destroying the earth (with its people) with their wickedness and who refuse to repent. The twenty-four elders in heaven praise God at the seventh trumpet and say "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty…Because You have taken Your great power and reigned” (See Rev. 11:17). Every believer agrees that it’s good when God is ruling by His power, but for God to rule in His power in all the earth, those who are in opposition must be removed. People cringe at the idea of God killing people, but the judgments of God will do just that at the end of the age. Keep in mind that God says in Ezekiel 33:11, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” He doesn’t want anyone to perish at anytime, but at the end of the age He will remove all those who refuse to repent. Jesus talked along this same theme in Luke 13:1-5. It says, “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."”

God has a wonderful plan; a plan that is beyond what we could ask or think. Revelation 21:3 gives us a glimpse of what is coming; it says, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.” God’s original intent will be realized and seen! How wonderful to think of the fullness God abiding with His people. There will be no veil, no darkness, nothing that hinders the perfection of love from being with His people.

Jesus says in Revelation 22:20, "Surely I am coming quickly."  We respond, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (verse 21) 


May God bless you richly with revelation knowledge as you continue to study His Word. Thank you for reading and following along with this blog. 

Chapters 12 through 14 are parenthetical chapters; they put a pause on the story line to further explain important things for us to understand.

Revelations chapter 15 and 16 reveal the last seven judgments seen as seven golden bowls. These seven bowls are released after the church is gathered together with Jesus Christ.

The judgments seen in Revelations seem severe, but remember, the Lord is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance’ (See 2 Peter 3:9). His judgments remove those who refuse to repent while bringing as many people to repentance as possible.

Revelation 16:4-6 gives us some insight into the righteousness of God's judgments. It says, “Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due."” These judgments that seem severe are God allowing the unrepentant people to reap the fruit of their own actions.

Revelation 18:20 says, "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" God’s judgments vindicate the wickedness done to His people.

Chapters 17 and 18 deal with the end time Babylon and the harlot religion who the “inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (See Rev. 17:2). This “religion” will be responsible for helping to unifying the nations and then many will worship “the beast” and his image. These are those who do not love truth, but instead have pleasure in unrighteousness. 

Below is a chart of key end time events. 

When studying eschatology (end time events) it is especially important to dig into the word of God and truly find out why you believe what you believe. Many people are quick to believe things because their favorite preacher believes something… that can be presumptuous and foolish. Proverbs 18:17 says, “The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.” If you have prejudges against anybody who believes differently than you do and you don’t take the time to listen to different viewpoints, you may just believe assumptions. Real truth can bear up under scrutiny. Even if you don’t change your mind after scrutinizing the truth and looking at different viewpoints, the process of searching will cause the truth to be strengthened within yourself.

Now let me say, the book of Revelations was written for you to understand; It was originally written to seven churches in Asia (See Rev. 1:11). It was written to simple people that were not highly educated; Holy Spirit will teach you as you meditate the Word of God.

In chapter 6, the Lord Jesus Christ opens the seals upon the scroll. When the first seal is opened, a white horse goes forth and its rider is the antichrist (the beast); this is the beginning of the great tribulation when restraint is lifted (See 2 Thess. 2:6-7). Below is a question and answer from “100 Most Frequently Asked Questions about the End Times” from the International House of Prayer on the subject of the white horse.

How do you know the horseman of the first seal judgment is the Antichrist?

• The rider of the white horse has a crown (political prominence, Rev. 13:1-2, 7), a bow (military authority), and he is a successful conqueror. The nations have been enjoying a counterfeit worldwide peace (1 Thes. 5:3). This will end after the opening of the first seal, the fall of Babylon and the abomination of desolation. The color white symbolizes righteousness because his reign initially appears righteous. He is the counterfeit to Jesus who rides a white horse with truth (Rev. 19:11). It would be out of place to say the rider of this white horse is Jesus when the other three horses have negative judgment events that involve sinful actions of men. Jesus is gloriously pictured in Revelation in splendor in three places (Rev. 1:12-18;14:14-16; 19:11-16). There are significant differences between the white horse riders in Revelation 6:2 and Revelation 19:11-16.
  

Chapter seven is a parenthetical section of the book of Revelations. It puts a “pause” on the storyline to explain key points. Chapter seven tells how the great tribulation in the earth is not allowed to happen till the servants of God are “sealed.” It isn’t just 144,000 Israelites that are sealed, but “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” (See Rev. 7:9). In chapter 9, verses 3 & 4 we see how those who are sealed are not allowed to be harmed by the judgments of God. The verses say, “Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” (Also see Ezekiel 9:3-5).

In chapter 8 we see the opening of the 7th seal on the scroll. The opening of the 7th seal is the seven trumpet judgments released by the “prayers of all the saints” (See Rev 8:3).  

Revelation 9:20-21 gives a glimpse of the darkness and depth of wickedness on the earth during the tribulation and judgments. The verses say, “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”

I encourage you to eat the book of Revelations and speak of the things that are coming (See Revelations 10: 10-11).  

In chapter 11 the seventh and final trumpet is sounded; Revelation 11:15 says, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"”

The apostle Paul also spoke of time of this last trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52, It says, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Jesus told about the sounding of the last trumpet also in Matthew 24:29-31… "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

The sounding of the seventh trumpet is the return of Jesus Christ when it will be said “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.” The seven bowls of wrath are released after we are gathered together with Jesus Christ.

After an introduction to the glorified Christ, the Lord has a message for seven churches in chapters 2 and 3. These seven churches may have been picked out to receive these messages from the Lord because they draw a parallel to some of the main problems and issues in the church in the last days. We should spend time meditating on chapters 4 & 5 (and of course the entire book). Chapters 4 & 5 are not symbolic allegory; they give us a glimpse of the throne room of God. It’s in the throne room that this end time saga begins, with the “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” with the Lamb that gave His life for sins of the world. Jesus Christ has been given all authority in heaven and earth; He has received a name above every name. Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, has received the authority to lose the seals of the scroll; the Father has given Him every nation (See Psalm 2:8) He is coming to rule and bring His kingdom to the entire earth.

Let me encourage you to listen to Mike Bickle’s Overview of the Book of Revelations

Below is a link to a single message that overview's the entire Book of Revelations:
http://mikebickle.org/resources/resource/61

The link below contains 12 messages that overview the Book of Revelations section by section
http://mikebickle.org/resources/series/the-book-of-revelation

2 John 1:7 says, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” There is a “war” over the true identity of Jesus Christ. There are many teachers (and teachings) that try to systematically remove the preeminence of Jesus Christ. It usually doesn't start out with outright denials of Jesus Christ, but with questionings and false understandings like the serpent gave Eve in the garden (See Geneses 3:1-7).

The apostle John says again in the third epistle, “I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.” This may not seem like a profound verse, but it gives us an important reminder that there are things that shouldn't be said until we can see each other face to face. There are things that shouldn't be said in letter, email, text, and sometimes even a by a phone call. All of these avenues can be a good ways to communicate at times, but something’s things need to be said while the person can see the expression on our face and while they have an opportunity to respond in the same way. As we have become more connected electronically, in many ways we have become so much less connected.  

1 John 4:19 says, “We love Him because He first loved us.” God’s love in us is His character in us that causes us to put others above ourselves; it’s when we begin to live to serve others. God’s love isn’t just a change of action on our part, but it is His very character in us. If we say we love God but have hatred in our heart toward another, we are lying. How could the love of God in us hate another person? 1 John 4:20 says, “If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” The apostle John shows in these verses how the love of God is more than sentimental feelings toward God. He goes on in 1 John 4:21: “And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” As children of God we need to grow in love; we must choose to “put on love” (see Colossians 3:14) while we choose to forgive and humbly serve and pray for others. 

2 Peter 2:9 says the LORD knows how to “reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” Verse 10 continues the thought and tells us about who these people are; it says, “…especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.” Let’s look at each of these aspects of those who will be punished. First, it says they “walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness.” We can’t continue to live a life of appeasing our self and fulfilling the desires of the flesh and think we’ll be alright; we would only be deceiving ourselves. Second, it says they “despise authority. “ We all have authority over us in our life; it is up to us to cultivate a humble attitude of serving and love. Next it says they are “presumptuous;” this Greek word can also mean “daring.” We night tend to think of being daring as a good thing, but when we are daring to do and speak our own desires instead of dying to these things, it is foolishness. It says they are “self willed.” When our will comes from our own self we are in trouble. Jesus prayed, “not My will, but Yours be done.” Last it says “they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.” This culture can be so quick to judge the character of those who over us; whether it be in the civil, family or spiritual arena.

Jude writes about many of the same ideas Peter did. In verse 4 (Amplified version) he writes about the “ungodly (impious, profane) persons who pervert the grace (the spiritual blessing and favor) of our God into lawlessness and wantonness and immorality.” God’s grace never gives us an excuse or escape to live in lawlessness and appease our flesh. If we give ourselves over to the will and desires of the flesh after receiving the grace of God, we can expect the same outcome of those who never received God’s grace. He’s will for us is to “repent and believe.”  

When we set out to do the will of God in ministry it’s possible to be ignorantly optimistic. Optimism is good, but we must be ready to endure the difficult things that accompany the will of God for our life. Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2-3, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” After he exhorts him to train men for leadership, he says “you therefore must endure hardship.” We all want things to just work out and be smooth without any problems, but that’s called fantasy; we must be willing to take the good with the bad. Open doors (ministry opportunities) typically come with adversaries (see 1 Cor. 16:9).

I like how 2 Timothy 2:7 reads in the English Standard Version. Paul tells Timothy, “Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand it all.” It’s our job to meditate the Scripture and then the Lord will help us understand all. What a beautiful picture of how we cooperate with the Lord. We spend time in His Word and meditate in it day and night and Holy Spirit will bring true spiritual understanding. Praise God! …makes me want to spend more time in His Word. 

We need to be willing to endure “hostility from sinners” (Heb. 12:3), and endure the chastening of God so we can finish the race set before us and be partakers of God’s holiness (Heb. 12:10). Next, in chapter 12, the writer gives a pep talk as a coach would talk to a sports team who is tired, discouraged and feels like giving up; verses 12 and 13 from the Message translation read, “So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!” People who have faith in God continue to run with diligence when things are difficult. In sports, when a team feels like there is no hope of winning, they let discouragement and tiredness rule them. What do your recent actions say about your faith?

Often covetousness is from not recognizing that God is with us to take care of our every need. Hebrews 13:5-6 says “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU." So we may boldly say: "THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?"” When we really know that God is with us and will make sure we have everything we need, it frees us not to have to worry or care about those things. We will be free to seek the kingdom and His righteousness, knowing all things will be added to us. 

Aaron and the Levitical priesthood only served a “copy and shadow of the heavenly things,” but Jesus has “a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (See Hebrews 8:5-6). In the Tabernacle and the Temple, the High Priest entered into the Most Holy place only once a year to atone for the people’s sins; “the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest” (See Heb. 9:8). “But this Man (Jesus Christ), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God;” “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (See Hebrews 10:12 & 14) We can all now have “boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19). Thank you Lord Jesus for Your sacrifice at the cross; You alone have made the way for us to dwell with God and have eternal life.